Canada Stocks to Watch: Couche-Tard, Laurentian Bank, RBC

Here are some of the stocks we’re watching in Friday’s trading session:

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. said first-quarter earnings jumped to $1.35 a share from 57 cents. Excluding items, earnings climbed to $1.16 a share from $1, well ahead of the 95 cents analysts were expecting. The convenience-store operator also hiked its dividend.

Laurentian Bank of Canada said third-quarter earnings fell to 91 Canadian cents a share from C$1.06 a year earlier. Adjusted earnings of C$1.31 a share were up from a year earlier, but missed the Thomson Reuters mean estimate of C$1.33.

Royal Bank of Canada, which posted a better-than-expected third-quarter profit Thursday and hiked its dividend, said it has named Kathleen Taylor as chairwoman. She replaces David O’Brien, who will retire at the end of this year.

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Canada Real Time provides insight and analysis into what’s making news in Canada, a country punching above its weight on the world stage thanks to its vast resources and strong banking sector. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, we take a look at developments in fields ranging from business to politics to culture. You can contact the editors at canadaeditors@dowjones.com